Slipstream - April 2014

and GTs each year, and in 1969 even fitted a couple
914s with a 908 flat eight racing engine. One of
the most disappointing scrapped projects relating
to the 914 was the heartbreaking rise and fall
of the 916. In 1972 this Porsche was produced
with a 2.4L engine, and its flared fender bodywork
was borrowed from a racing 914/6 GT.
The 916 was supposed to be the super luxurious
version of the 914. It came with a cassette player,
real leather interior, smooth bodylines, and beefier
engine, but with a price of $14,000-$15,000 (close to
the base 911of the time), no one took a bite. Unfortunately
only one US Spec 916 officially made it to
the states; it was purchased by Peter Gregg of Brumos
Porsche+Audi in Florida. I wonder where it is now . . . .
my chances of restoring to Concours level are well
beyond my budget. I believe a 914 should be crowned
as a Porsche; it is everything a Porsche is. It is stylish,
fast, agile, and extremely fun to drive! What more
does a 914 need? The correct engine code numbers?
Hail to the King, baby!
Hood marked out with template
Another shocking bit of information I gathered is
that none of the 914s that came from VW’s Wolfsburg
or Porsche’s Zuffenhausen came with a Porsche crest
installed on the front hood. Because the cars didn’t
come with one originally, slapping a crest on a 914
sparks up controversy between true Porsche Gear
Heads. It’s funny; I have found, through personal
discussions and forum surfing, that the people opposed
to adding the crest are not just the “original
only” guys, they are the same
people who wouldn’t accept the
914 as a Porsche in the first place.
I understand and sympathize with
what the antique “all original”
guys are saying, and if my car
was in pristine condition (like
the one in the December 2013
edition of Panorama) I probably
wouldn’t have installed the crest.
But my car is not pristine, it has
miles, rust, missing parts, and a
little customization from previous
owners -- so much so that
For those that want to place a crest on a 914 or fix/
replace another model’s crest, the steps of installation
are quite simple. PelicanParts.com provides a kit
with everything you might need to replace or install
your new crest. For my car I had to measure out
the positioning of the crest and mark my measurements
with painters tape. With a template, which is
downloadable, I marked where I was going to drill
out the two holes for the prongs on the back of the
crest. I started my incision with a small drill bit and
worked my way up to the bigger size that led to the
final fitting. To prevent rust, I applied a little touch-up
paint to my newly-drilled holes and waited for it to
dry before I placed the crest on the hood. To keep
the crest in place, it is fastened with two end caps
(which look like nuts) that just thread themselves
onto the prongs on the underside of the hood. When
the seal is snug around the crest, and the emblem
firmly situated on the hood, your work is done.
The first few glances of the car
made me feel weird. It was mildly
related to buyer’s remorse, but
nowhere near as strong. Having
the crest took a week or so to get
used to, but now I can’t imagine
what the car’s hood would look
like without it. The 914 is a significant
part of Porsche History, not to
mention the predecessor of the
Boxster, Cayman, and the spectacular
918; it deserves to be displayed
and crowned, like its contemporaries,
as a King!
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